Shorthand-machine



W. S IRELAND.

SHORTHAND MACHINE. APPLICATION fiusp ms. 2'1, 1917.

1,339,346. Patented May4,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W. S. IRELAND.

SHORTHAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2'1. r917.

1,339,346. Patented May 4,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4- W. S. IRELAND.

SHORTHAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1917.

Patented May 4, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. S, IRELAND.

SHOR-THAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2|. 1911.

Patented May 4, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w. s. IRELAND.

SHORTHAND MACHjflE. APPLICATION mu) FEB. 21. 1917.

1,339,346; I Patented May4,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

LRDATIEULRNMBIGLYS DOH\ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WARD S. IRELAND, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL SHORTHAND MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SHORTHAND-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented May 4, 1920.

Application filed February 21, 1917. Serial No. 150,053.

exact description, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, forminga part of.

this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shorthand machines, and more particularly to a shorthand keyboard and printing elements associated therewith. shorthand machine I mean a machine having a number of-,-keys adapted to be actuated simultaneously so that a collection of letters constituting a word or part of a word may be printed or written quickly by a single stroke of one or both of the operators hands. The printed characters may spell the word properly, phonetic spelling maybe resorted to, or a code may be used in lieu of such simple keyboard. A further object of the invention is to simplify the art of shorthand writing by enabling the operator to write, or print, in very clear type, many different characters which heretofore, have been only vaguely represented by arbitrary combinations of characters.

Another object of theinvention is to produce a new shorthand machine keyboard having a highly desirable combination of conveniently arranged keys under the immediate control .of the thumbs and fingers of the operator.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations-and modifications which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I The shorthand machine I have shown to illustrate the preferred form of the inven- By the term tion is provided with means for printing upon and feeding a strip of paper. The keyboard includes keys which may be operated independently. of each other, or several keys may be operated simultaneously to print a line of characters. During each key operation, the paper advances one step" irrespective] of the number of keys used in printing the character or characters.

It is an advantage to minimize the number of keys, for all of the keys used in each printing operation must be depressed simultaneously and they should be within the reach of and easily controlled by the fingers of the operator. However, it is a decided disadvantage to reduce the number of type characters to such an extent that many compleX combinations of characters are required to represent missing characters. Heretofore, numerals have been represented by combinations of alphabetical characters, and also by combining alphabetical characters with another character to indicate that the printed matter is a code representing one or more numbers. In following the last mentioned method; the operator must do press one key to print the number-indicating character, and at the same time manipulate the alphabetical keys to print the alphabetical characters which are to be read as numerals. Moreover, in transcribing the notes the operator must watch carefully for the distinguishing character indicating that the alphabetical characters represent numerals.

To-economize in the manufacture of the machines, and to avoid unnecessary weight, it is desirable to reduce the number of key levers and other parts to a minimum. It'is also an advantage to construct the printing elements in such a manner that agreat variety of characters may be selected and printed on a' relatively narrow .stri of paper. This reduces the weight of the paper roll, and, furthermore, it is comparatively easy to read the relatively short lines of characters.

its

and very quickly. Before describing a specific structure, I will endeavor to more clearly explain the reason for using the terms primary and secondary characters, and point out the beneficial results derived from the new combination and arrangement of keys and type characters.

The group or groups of characters used most frequently have been termed primary characters, and the characters not used so often are the secondary characters. For erimple, a carefully selected group or groups of alphabetical characters may be considered as the primary characters, and numerals may be the secondary characters. Or, if desired, the secondary characters may include a carefully selected group of supplemental letters which provide for the printing of a very large number of words that could not be conveniently printed by the primary characters alone. In this connection it is important to observe that the art of machine-shorthand involves a very comprehensive scientific study of words,

and, as a result of considerable study, I have found that certain combinations of primary characters occur very frequently, while the secondary characters do not appear so often. owever, the secondary characters are quite important, and the printing of such characters should be easily controlled by the hands of the operator.

If the keyboard is so constructed that all of the primary and secondary characters may be printed simultaneously in-a single line the line would be very long, and the desired keys could not be readily selected and depressed at a single stroke. Again, if the use of a large collection of printing keys is avoided by employing ordinary individual shift keys, one or more fingers must be used to shift the type, and. therefore. cannot be used to operate the printing keys. To'obtain maximum speed, which is the main object in shorthand writing, each of the operators fingers should be free to actuate a character key, and it is apparent that this cannot be done if one or more fingers are used for the sole purpose of actuating one or ,more individual shift keys. (onsequcntly. the highly desirable maximum speed cannot be obtained if any of the fingers are required to perform the sole function of actuating a shift key.

I will now briefly describe a specific structurc whereby I overcome all of.these disadvantages.

The printing elements include primary and secondarytyqie characters arranged in different lines, a collection of primary keys, and a secondary key, or shift key, for moving the secondary characters to the printing line. The primary characters are printed by actuating the primary keys, and all of said primary characters may be printed simultaneously in a single line, by depressing all of the primary keys at the same time.

The secondary key, or shift key, is prefer ably associated with a series of the primary keys, and if all of the keys of this series are depressed with the secondary key, all of the secondary characters will be printed in a single line. Any one or more of the said series of primary keys may be selected and depressed with the secondary key for the purpose of printing the selected secondary characters.

Stated more specifically, one of the features of the invention consists in combining the secondary key with a series of the primary keys, in such a manner that any of the secondary characters may be printed by a single stroke of a single finger. The same is true of the primary characters.

Figure I is a diagrammatical view of the printing elements.

Fig. II is a plan view of the machine, a portion of the housing being broken away to show the shiftable type sections.

Fig. III is a longitudinal section of the machine shown in Fig. I. v

Fig. IV is a detail view illustrating a type shifter and two primary keys.

Fig. V is a perspective view of the type sections.

Fig. VI is a transverse-section of the machine taken approximately on the line VI-VI. Fig. III.

Fig. V II is a detail view showing one of the type sections and the shifter associated therewith.

Fig. VIII is a detail view of the paper feeding roll.

Fig. IX is a section on line IX-IX, Fig. VIII, a portion of the paper feeding device being broken away.

Fig. X is a section on the line X-X,

.Fig. VIII.

The keyboard I'have shown to illustrate the invention comprises a group of primary initial consonant keys I), G, K, S, B, T,'I, H, L and R, a group of vowel keys 0, A, I, E and I and a group of primary final consonant keys L, R, N M, B, T, G, L, Y and S. If all of these keys are depressed simultaneously all of the primary consonants will be printed with the vowels in a single line, as shown at the upper portion of Fig. I. Any primary key, or a combination of primary keys, may be selected and depressed simultaneously to print any selected primary character or characters.

10 designates a secondary initial consonant key associated with the primary keys G, S, T, H and R to print the secondary initial consonants J, V, Y, M and N. as will be hereinafter described. A secondary final consonant key 11 is associated with the primary consonant keys R, M, T, Land S to print the secondary final consonants R,

L, T, C and H. 12 designates a secondary key associated with the rear row of initial consonant keys to print the numerals 1 to 5. A secondary key 13 is associated with the rear row of final consonant keys to print the numerals 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0. If all of the primary and secondary keys are depressed simultaneously all of the secondary characters will be printed in a single line, as shown at the upper portion of Fig. I. I will now point out briefly how this is accomplished and afterward describe the various details of construction.

The printing elements include a line of type for printing the line of primary characters, (Fig. I) and a second line of type for printing the secondary characters. The primary keys normally print the primary characters, but when a secondary key is depressed it actuates a shifter, and the primary keys may then be actuated to print the secondary characters. Each primary key may be operated by itself to print a primary character, and it may be operated simultaneously with a secondary key to print a secondary, instead of a primary character. For example, the primary key G at the left side of Fig. I may be operated by itself to print the primary consonant G, or it may be actuated with the secondary key 10 to print the secondary consonant J. The secondary initial consonant key 10 may be actuated simultaneously with the adjacent primary initial consonant keys G, S, T, H and R to print'all of the secondary consonants J, V, Y,"M and N. Or, any one of the last mentioned primary keys may be selected and depressed with the secondary key 10 to print one of the secondary initial consonants'J, V, Y, M and N. In the keyboard I have shown, each primary key is located adjacent to a character on a secondary key, and if a single primary key is depressed with its companion secondary key the adjacent secondary character will be printed. For instance, the secondary character J on the secondary key 10 lies adjacent to the primary key G, and if both of these keys are depressed'simultaneously, the secondary character VJ will be printed as previously pointed out. i

Any final consonant represented by the secondary key 11 may beprinted by selecting a primary key which lies adjacent to the selected final consonant on key 11, and depressing both keys at the same time. For example, the secondary final consonant H (Fig. I) may be printed by depressing the keys S and 1]. simultaneously. In a similar manner, the secondary keys 12 and 13 may be actuated with selected primary keys to print selected numerals, instead of printing the primary characters which appear on the primary keys.

For the purpose of this disclosure. 1 have shown the various primary and secondary characters on the keys, but a skilled operator will actuate the keys without the aid of visible characters and I, therefore, prefer to use a blind keyboard. Furthermore, any desired primary and secondary characters may be used, and the characters may be arranged in any desired sequence.

The secondary keys 10 and 12 are secured together, as will-be later described, to actuate a shifter, thereby allowing any of the characters which appear on said secondary keys to be printed by actuating therewith the adjacent primary keys. The secondary keys 11 and 13 are likewise secured to a shifter for a similar purpose. The different shifters are operable independently of'each other so that primary and secondary characters may be printed simultaneously. For

example, in the word MAN, M is a secondar initial consonant, A is a vowel, and is a primaryfinal consonant. All of these letters may be readily printed simultaneously by depressing the secondary key 10 with the primary key H to print the secondary consonant M, at the same time actuating the vowel key A and the primary final consonant key N. The word MAN is thus printed very quickly by combining the primary and secondary characters. This is a very simple illustration, but it will be apparent that an indefinite number of words may be printed by combining the primary characters of one group with the secondary characters of another group.

It will now be understood that thesecondary keys do not in any Way interfere with the primary keys, the operator being free to select and print primary characters in the usual manner. -When' the desired characters appear in the secondary division,

they may be readily printed by depressing prlmary and secondary keys at the same time. In this connection, it is very im portant to note that such primary key is located so close to its companion secondary key that both keys may be depressed simultaneously by a single stroke of a single fin-' ger. The value of this feature may-not be fully appreciated, unless it is clearly understood that speed is a most important factor in shorthand writing; the keys to be operated at a single stroke must all be under the convenient control of the operators fingers; and the operator should be able to. easily select and print a maximum number of characters at a single stroke. Heretofore, characters which I term secondary have been missing from the keyboard so that a complex code is required to represent them: or they have been printed by using one or more fingers to operate one or more ordinary shift keys, at the same time using one or more additional fingers to actuate selected printing keys. Consequently, the operator has heretofore been unable to print all of the selected characters at the high rate of speed that could be obtained by using a single finger to clearly print any desired secondary character. The machine I have shown is so constructed that any selected primary character, or any selected secondary character may be printedby a single stroke of a single finger.

spool to another.

The type support preferably comprises a stationary horizontal rod 22, rigidly secured at its ends to side frames 23. A

middle type section 24 is rigidly secured tothe stationary rod 22 b means of a pin 25 (Figs. V and VI). he bottom face of this stationary type section is provided with a star and the vowel characters 0, A, I, E and U. Shiftable type sections 26 and 27, pivotally supported by the stationary rod 22, are each provided with a row of primary type characters and a row of secondarytype characters. The rimar initial consonants D, G, K, S, B, T P, If L and R, on the type section 26, normally lie at the printing line, so that these initial consonants may be normally printed by actuating the primary initial consonant keys. For a similar reason, the primary final consonants L, R, N, M, B, T, G,'L, Y and S, on the shiftabletype section 27 are normally located at theprinting line. The vowel type characters on the stationary, or non-shiftable, type section 24 are always located at the printing line, and they may be printed at anytime by actuating the vowel keys. The type sections 26 and 27 may be shifted independently of each other so that the secondary characters on either of said sections may be combined withthe primary characters on the other section. a

The primary type characters normally lie directly above a row .of rinting hammers 28 (Flgs. III,.IV and I) which extend from the rear ends of key levers 29. Each of these key levers forms part of a primary key, and itis pivotall supported by a pivot rod 30. Springs 31 Fig. III) fitted to the key levers, yieldingly hold said levers in their non-printing positions. When one of the primary keys is actuated one of the printing hammers moves upwardly thereby forcing the paper 14: onto the inking ribbon 20 (Fig. III), at the same time forcing said ribbon onto a type character.

Themeans for shifting the independent type sections 26 and 27, to locate the secondary type at the printing line, comprises a lever 32 forming part of the secondary keys 10 and 12, and a similar lever 32' forming part of the secondary keys 11 and 13. The lever 32 is pivotally supported at 33 (Figs.

III and IV) and the lever 32' is pivoted at 33 (Fig. VII). A pin 34:, projecting from the type section 26, lies in an irregular cam slot 35 at the rear end of lever 32. The lever 32 is provided with a similar cam 35' (Figs. I and VII) for the reception of a pin 34 which extends from the type section 27.

When a secondary key 10 or 12 is depressed, the cam faces of the slot 35 move upwardly, thereby shifting the type section 26 rearwardly to locate its secondary type at the printing line. When the secondary key is released, the lever 32 and the type section are restored by a spring 36 (Figs. III and IV). Obviously, the. secondary keys 1 1 and 13 and the cam associated therewith may be actuated to shift the type section 27. v

I have previously stated thata primary and a secondary key may be depressed simultaneously by a single finger, and in this connectionit is important to note that the secondary key should perform its function by shifting the type, and then continue in motion with the primary key during the printing operation. The type should not slip during the printing operation, but to obtain the most satisfactory results, the type shifting key (secondary key) must move with the primary key during the entire stroke of the single finger which actuates both keys. If the type is in motion during the'printing operation it will slide on the ribbon, or drag the ribbon over the paper, causing a blur in either event. However, if the secondary key or] shift key is stopped abruptly to stop the type before the primary key (printing key) completes its stroke, both keys could not be readily actuated simultaneously by a single finger. I, therefore, preferably construct the type shifter in sucha manner that the secondary key will shift the type and thereafter retain the ty e in a fixed stationary position' a'iirhile both eys continue in motion to perform the printing operation.

To accomplish this, each of the cam slots 35 and 35' is provided with inclined faces 36' (Figs. IV and VII) which are not concentrio with the axis of the pivot 33--33', and also provided with cam faces 37 concentric with said pivot. The inclined cam faces 36' co-operate with the pin on the adjacent type section, to shift the type at the beginning of the keystroke, and after the type has been shif position. As a consequence, each secondary ted the concentric faces 37 en-- gage said pin to hold the type in its shifted key (shift key) is adapted to perform its function and then continue to move in synchronism with a primary key while the type is retained in its shifted position. This enables the operator to depress both a primary and secondary key at these-me time by a single finger, the double key operation being completed when the character is printed. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the operator to move the secondary key a precise or fixed distance. This is an advantage, for the operator could not readily move two keys very quickly by a single fin ger, with the result of moving each key to a predetermined fixed position. The paper feeding device comprises a umversal bar 38 (Fig. III) arranged over the key levers and fixed to a bell crank lever 39, the latter being pivotally supported by the pivot rod 30. The upwardly extending arm of this bell crank lever 39 is notched to receive a pin 40 projecting from a feed member 41 in one end' of the p per feeding roll 17 ('Figs. III, VIII and- This feed member 41 is loosely mounted in the roll 17 and it oscillates freely in res onse to movements of the universal bar. Vhen the feed member ll moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. IX, the small rollers 42 are firmly clamped in the tapering spaces between said feed member ll and the feed roll 17, and movement is then trans mitted from the universal bar, through the feed member 41 and rollers 42 to the feed roll 17. During the reverse movement, when the feed member ll moves oppositely to the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. IX) the small rollers 42 tend to move away from the point of the wedge-like spaces in which they are mounted, and they do not transmit movement to the feed rolls 17. The action is similar to the action of a ratchet and pawl. The paper feeding roll 17 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. IX) in response to the oscillatory movements of the feed member 41.

To positively prevent retrograde movement, a stationary holding member 41 (Figs. VIII and X) is arranged in one end of the paper feeding roll 17 and secured to a stationary side frame 23 by a pin 43. Spring pressed rolls 42' are arranged in the wedge-shaped spaces between the stationary holding member 41and the feed roll 17. These small rolls 42 allow the feed roll 17 to turn freely in the direction indicated by the. arrow (Fig. X), but if an effort is made to reverse the direction of movement, the small rolls 42, tending to move toward the points of the wedge-shaped spaces, will cooperate with the stationary holding memher 41 to prevent such retrograde movement. I

I claim 1. A keyboard for writing machines comprising two rows of primary keys and a pair of elongated rigidly connected shift keys,

one of said shift keys being disposed on each side of said rows of primary keys and so arranged with respect to said primary keys that a contiguous shift key may be actuated by the'same finger that 'actuates any individual primary key.

2. A keyboard for writing machines com I prising two groups of keys, each consisting of two rows of rimary keys and a pair of elongated shit keys, one of said shift keys being disposed on each side of said rows of primary keys and so arranged with respect to said primary keys that a contiguous shift keymay be actuated by the same finger that actuates any individual primary 3. A keyboard for writing machines comprising two groups of keys, each consisting of two rows. of primary keys and a pair characters to be printed when said primary keys are individually actuated, one of said shift keys being disposed on each side of the rows of primary keys of each group and so arranged with respect to said pr1-,

mary keys that a contiguous shift key may be actuated by the same finger that actuates an individual primary key,-and secondary characters delineated on said shift keys adjacent each primary key indicating charac-' ters to be printed when a shift key is actulalted in unison with an individual primary A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type characters, and means whereby any of said characters may be printed by a single stroke of a single nger, said means including primary keys movable independently of each other to print any selected primary character, secondary keys operable with different primary keys to print any selected secondary character instead of a primary character, each of said secondary keys and the primary key with which it is associated being movable simultaneously by a single stroke of a single finger.

6. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type characters, and means whereby any of said characters may be printed by a single stroke of a single finger, said means including primary keys movable independently of each other to print any selected primary character, secondary keys each of which is associated with a series of primary keys to print the selected secondary characters, each of the secondary keys being movable with any one of the series of primary keys with which it is associated, and each of the last mentioned primary keys being movable with its companion secondary key by a single stroke of a single finger.

7. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type characters, rows of primary keys movable normally and independently to print selected primary characters, and elongated secondary keys each of which is associated with a row of primary keys, each elongated secondary key being movable with any key of the primary row with which it is associated to print the selected secondary characters. t

, 8. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type characters, rows of primary keys movable normally and independently to print selected primary characters, and elongated secondary keys each of which is associated with a row of primary keys, each elongated secondary key being movable with any key of the primary row with which it is associated to print the selected secondary characters, and each elongated secondary key being located so close to its companion primary keys that any of the last mentioned keys may be selected and depressed with the adjacent secondary key by a single stroke of a single finger.

9. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type characters, a series of primary keys movable independently to normally print selected primary cha acters, and an elongated secondary key located in front of the series of primary keys, said elongated secondary key being movable with any key of theprimary series to print a selected secondary character, and said elongated secondary key being located so close to the series of primary keys that any key in said series may be selected and depressed simultaneously with the secondary key by, a single finger.

10. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising two series'ot' primary type characters, two series of secondary type characters, two series of primary keys movable independently of each other to print selected primary characters, an elongated secondary key in front of one of the series of primary keys, and an elongated secondary key at the rear of the other series of primary keys, said primary and secondary keys being operable simultaneously to print the secondary characters, and each elongated secondary key being arranged so close to the series of primary keys with which it is associated that any of said primary keys may be selected and depressed with the adjacent key to print a selected secondary character.

11. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary shifter being operable by either of said sec-- ondary keysto provide for the printing of secondary characters, and each secondary key being movable by a single finger with any key of the primary series with which it is associated to print the selected secondary characters.

13. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type for printing primary and secondary consonants. and means whereby any of said consonants may be printed by a single stroke of a single finger, said means including a secondary consonant key, primary consonant keys movable independently of each other to print the primary consonants, said secondary consonsant key being movable with a series of said primary consonant keys to print the secondary consonants instead of primary consonants, and said series of primary consonant keys being located so close to the secondary consonant key that any of the primary keys in said series may he selected and actuated simultaneously with the secondary consonant key by a single finger.

14. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type for printing primary and secondary initial consonants, and means whereby any one of said initial consonants may be printed by a single stroke of a single finger, said means including primary initial consonant keys movable independently of each other to print the selected primary initial consonants. and secondary initial consonant keys movable with said primary initial consonant keys to print the selected secondary initial consonants, each of said primary initial consonant keys and the secondary initial consonant key with which it is associated being movable simultaneously by a single stroke of a single finger.

15. A shorthand machine having printing the secondary final consonant key with which it is associated being movable simultaneously by a single stroke of a single finger.

16. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type for printing primary initial and final consonants and secondary initial and final consonants, and means whereby any one of said consonantsmay be selected and printed by a single stroke of a single finger, said means including primary consonant keys movable independently of each other to print the selected primary initial or final consonants, and secondary consonant keys movable with said primary consonant keys to print the selected secondary consonants, each primary consonant key and the secondary consonant key with which it is associated being movable simultaneously by a single stroke of a single finger.

17. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising primary and secondary type for printing primary and secondary consonants, and means whereby any of said consonants may be printed by a single stroke of a single finger, said means including two groups of primary consonant keys for printing primary consonants, and secondary consonant keys associated therewith to print secondary consonants, each secondary consonant key being movable simultaneously with a primary consonant key by a single stroke of a single finger to print a secondary consonant, and the different groups of keys being movable simultaneously to print primary and secondary consonants at the same time.

18. A shorthand machine having printing devices comprising two groups of primary consonant keys, two groups of secondary consonant type, and operating means including groups of primary consonant keys for printing the groups of primary consonants,

independently movable secondary consonant keys associated withsaid groups of primary consonant keys to print the secondary consonants, each of said primary consonant keys and the secondary consonant key associated therewith being movable simultaneously by a single stroke of a single finger to print a secondary consonant, and the selected primary and secondary consonant keys of the different groups being movable simultaneously to print selected primary and sec ondary characters at the same time.

19. In a shorthand machine, printing de vices including type for printing primary and secondary initial consonants and primary and secondary final consonants, primary initial and final consonant keys operable to print the primary consonants, sec ondary initial and final consonant keys associated with said primary initial and final consonant keys to print the secondary consonants, each secondary key being movable simultaneously with a primary key by a single finger to print a selected secondary consonant, and the primary and secondary initial consonant keys being movable inde--' pendently of the primary and secondary final consonant keys so that secondary initial consonants and primary final consonants may be printed simultaneously.

20. In a shorthand machine, primary and secondary printing devices adapted to print primary and secondary initial consonants, printing devices adapted to print primary and secondary final consonants, each of said devices being arranged to normaly print primary consonants and provided with a shifter adapted to be actuated in printing secondary consonants, the shifters being movable independently of each other so that primary initial consonants and secondary final consonants may be printed simultaneously, primary and secondary initial consonant keys for printing the initial consonants, primary and secondaryfinal consonant keys for printing the final consonants, the secondary keys being adapted to actuate the respective shifters, and each secondary key being movable simultaneously with a primary key by a single finger to print a secondary consonant.

21. In a shorthand machine, primary and secondary printing devices for printing alphabetical and numerical characters respectively, each of said devices being arranged to normally print alphabetical characters and provided with a shifter adapted to be actuated in printing the numerical characters, the shifters being movable independently of each other so that alphabetical and numerical characters may be printed simultaneously, primary and secondary keys for printing different characters, the secondary keys being adapted to actuate the respective shifters, and each secondary key being movable simultaneously with a primary key by a single finger to print a numerical character.

22. In a shorthand machine, primary printing devices adapted to print primary consonants, secondary printing devices associated with said primary printing devices ters being associated with a series of. the

ters, two series of secondary type characters, each series of secondary type characprimary type characters, and shifting means whereby a shift may be effected to allow the primary keys of either series to print the secondary characters, said shifting means including independently movable secondary keys operable withthe primary keys to print the secondary instead of the primary characters, each secondary key being movable simultaneously with a primary key by a single finger.

24. In a shorthand machine, printing devices including two series of primary type characters and two series of primary keys which normally print the primary -charac ters, .two series of secondary type characters, eaclrseries of secondary type characters beingassociated with a series of the primary type characters, and shifting means whereby a shift may be effected to allow the primary keys of either series to print the secondary characters, said shifting means including two independentlymovable shifters each of which is associated with one series of the primary keys, and independently movable secondary keys for actuating said shifters, each secondary keybeing movable simultaneously with a primary key by a single finger.

25. In a shorthand machine, printing devices including two groups of primary chara'cters, two groups of secondary type characters, and means whereby the primary characters of one group and the secondary characters of another group may be printed at the same time, said means including groups of primary keys movable to print the primary characters, secondary keys each of which is provided with a shifter whereby a shift may be effected to enable the primary keys 'of one group to print secondary characters, the two selected primary and secondary keys being movable simultaneously by a single finger.

26. A shorthand machine havingtype sections each provided with primary and secondary type characters, primary keys normally operable to print the primary charactersia nda secondary key provided with means for shifting one of the type sections so as to locate the secondary type in their printing positions, said secondary key and aprimary key being operable simultaneously by a single finger to print a secondary character.

27. A shorthand machine having independently movable type sections for printing primary and secondary initial consonants and primary and secondary final consonants, primary keys normally operable toprint the primary consonants, secondary keys adapted to shift the respective type sections independently of each other so as to locate the secondary type in their printing positions, the primary keys beingadapted to print the shifted secondary type'characters, and each secondary key being movable mally operable to print the primary finaly consonants, secondary consonant keys each of which is provided with means for shifting one of said type sections to locate the secondary type in the printing position, said secondary keys being movable independently of each other so that either type section may be shifted independently of the other, and each secondary key being movable simultaneously'with a primary key by a singlefinger toiprint a selected secondary character.

29. A shorthand machine having independently movable type sections for printing primary and secondary initial consonants and primary and secondary final consonants, a fixed or -"non-shiftable type section arranged between said movable type sections and provided with vowel type characters, vowel keys associated with said yowel type characters to print the vowels, pr mary keys normally operable to print the primary consonants, secondary keysadapted to shift the respective type sectlons independently of each other so as.to locate the secondary" type in their printing positions, the primary keys being adapted to print the shifted secondary type characters, and each secondary key being movable simultaneously w th a primar key by a single finger to print a 'selecte secondary character.

30. A shorthand machine having printing devices including a printing key, a shiftable printing-element, and a shifter for moving said shiftable printing element, said shifter int including a cam for transmitting power to the shiftable printing element and said cam being so formed that the shifter will actuate the shiftable printing element and then move independently of said element after the latter reaches its shifted position, and said shifter and printing key being movable simultaneously to print a selected character after the shiftable printing element reaches the printing position. v

31. A shorthand machine having printing devices including a printing key, a shiftable printing element, and a shifter for moving said shiftable printing element, said shifter including an irre lar cam for transmitting power to the shiftable printing element, said irregular cam being so formed that the shifter can continue in motion with the printing key after the shiftable printing element has reached its printin position, and said printing key and shi or being movable simultaneously to print the selecte character while the shiftable printing element is at rest.

32. A shorthand machine having rinting devices including a printing key, a s iftable printing element and a sh1fter for moving said shiftable prmting element, said shifter comprising a pivotally supported lever provided with a cam for the transmission of motion to said shiftable rinting element, said cam having an irre u ar face a portion of which is concentric with the ivot of said lever so that the lever may shi said shiftable printing element and then continue in motion without transmitting movement to said shiftable printing element, said shifter and printing key bein movable simultaneously to actuate the s iftable printing element and thereafter print the selected character while said printing element is at rest.

33. A shorthand machine having printin devices includin a printing key and a shi key located so 0 ose to each other that both keys may be readily depressed simultaneously by a single finger, the printing key being adapted to perform its function at the end of the finger stroke, and the shift key being provided with means for eifectin the shift before the finger stroke is comp eted, said means including a cam having an irregular face 1 whereby the shiftable element is actuated and then retained in a fixed printing position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto afiix my signature.

W. S. IRELAND. 

